Dentists’ Attitudes toward Diabetes Mellitus Screening in Thai Dental Clinics
Issued Date
2022-03-01
Resource Type
ISSN
16617827
eISSN
16604601
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85126290760
Pubmed ID
35329025
Journal Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
19
Issue
6
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol.19 No.6 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Tantipoj C., Sirichanyaphong T., Nuntachurat J., Ruetaijetjaroen K., Hiransuthikul N., Pujarern P., Fuangtharnthip P., Khovidhunkit S.O.P. Dentists’ Attitudes toward Diabetes Mellitus Screening in Thai Dental Clinics. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol.19 No.6 (2022). doi:10.3390/ijerph19063341 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/84724
Title
Dentists’ Attitudes toward Diabetes Mellitus Screening in Thai Dental Clinics
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (DM), especially type 2 DM, has become a common problem worldwide. Previous studies have demonstrated that chairside screening can effectively identify undetected type 2 DM patients. This study was conducted to determine dentists’ attitudes toward DM screening in dental clinics. A total of 632 currently active dentists with more than 1 year of working experience participated. The six-part (importance, barriers, willingness, readiness, knowledge, and routine management) anonymous, self-administered questionnaire of five-point response scales was then distributed. The results illustrated that most dentists (86.3%) realized the importance of DM screening and that patients’ willingness was the main potential barrier (86.4%). Of the respondents, 98.1% and 82.4% were willing to measure blood pressure and weight and height for their patients, whereas only 45.4% and 38.8% were willing to collect blood from the fingertip or oral fluids for salivary diagnostics, respectively. Moreover, 73.7% of respondents were ready to refer patients to physicians, and 59.5% could explain the relationship between DM and oral diseases. However, only 44.3% and 27.9% were prepared to provide education about DM awareness or were able to perform screening, respectively. In addition, 67.2% and 65.8% knew the screening criteria and risk factors of DM, respectively, but only 45.1% knew what to do. The result of our study provided essential knowledge with respect to dentists’ attitudes in the screening for DM in Thai dental clinics.